Romania’s National Gambling Office (ONJN) has fined online gambling operator TG Malta Limited RON 20,000 ($4,450). The operator, which runs TotoGaming, was sanctioned over an advertising campaign that regulators said breached responsible gambling principles.
The campaign promoted TotoGaming through a billboard in Florești, Cluj County, as well as YouTube and the operator’s official Instagram account. The advertising featured a character presented as a doctor, wearing a white coat and stethoscope and shown in a medical office.
The campaign used messages including “Easy to use between appointments. Give it a try!” and “In my office, after the last patient.”
According to ONJN, the campaign presented gambling as an activity that could be incorporated into everyday routines, particularly during breaks at work. The regulator said the phrase “between appointments” positioned gaps in a professional schedule as opportunities to gamble, while the call to “Give it a try!” encouraged consumers to replicate the behaviour.
Commenting on the fine, ONJN President Vlad-Cristian Soare stated: ‘’Responsible gaming is not a simple formal mention that can be included in advertising material, while the main message is in direct contradiction with it.
‘’Through this sanction, we are sending a message to the entire industry that advertising must be evaluated by its content and its real effect on the consumer, not just by the presence of mandatory formal elements.’’
The regulator also criticised the use of a medical professional, arguing that the profession’s association with health, responsibility and public trust could make the gambling behaviour appear less risky.
In Romania, advertising for licensed gambling is permitted but must comply with the limits set by special legislation and the principle of responsible participation
